S 546 · 119th Congress

Technical Correction to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

Native American water rightstribal settlementsfederal trust fundsDuck Valley Reservation
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Last action 2025-12-15

Sponsored by Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] (D) — NV

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Would authorize a specific adjusted interest payment of $5,124,902.12 to be deposited into the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes Water Rights Development Fund, correcting an omission in the 2009 water rights settlement for the Duck Valley Reservation tribes.

What this bill would do

What it would do

The bill would amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to authorize the appropriation of $5,124,902.12 to the Secretary of the Interior for deposit into the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes Water Rights Development Fund. This fund was established under the 2009 water rights settlement for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, which straddles the Nevada-Idaho border. The amendment adds a new subparagraph authorizing this specific adjusted interest payment, which was not covered by the original fund appropriation language.

The bill makes no other substantive change to the settlement or the fund's structure, authorities, or purposes. It is a narrow technical correction intended to align the statutory text with the interest obligations incurred under the original settlement agreement.

Key provisions

  1. 1Would amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to authorize appropriation of $5,124,902.12 to the Secretary of the Interior for deposit into the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes Water Rights Development Fund as adjusted interest.Sec. 2

Who would be affected

The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, whose water rights settlement fund would receive the adjusted interest payment. The Secretary of the Interior would be directed to deposit the funds. The Duck Valley Reservation spans the Nevada-Idaho border.

Why it matters

Without this correction, the adjusted interest payment owed under the 2009 settlement would lack an explicit statutory authorization for deposit into the Development Fund. Enacting this bill would close that gap, ensuring the tribes receive the full interest amount contemplated under their water rights settlement.

What would change

Changes to existing law

Amends Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11) (Sec. 2)

Adds a new subparagraph authorizing appropriation of $5,124,902.12 for deposit into the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes Water Rights Development Fund as adjusted interest payments.

Agencies directed to act

Department of the Interior

Funding and costs

  • $5,124,902.12

    Adjusted interest payment deposited into the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes Water Rights Development FundSec. 2

Congressional Budget Office estimate

CBO estimates that S. 546 would cost $5 million over the 2025–2030 period, with no effect on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit.

S. 546 would authorize an appropriation of $5.125 million to be deposited into the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes Water Rights Development Fund, established to rehabilitate water infrastructure on the Duck Valley Reservation in Idaho and Nevada. CBO estimates that, assuming the authorized amount is appropriated (discretionary spending), the bill would cost $5 million over the 2025–2030 period. It would have no effect on direct (mandatory) spending, revenues, or the deficit in any scoring window, and CBO projects no net direct spending increases in any of the four 10-year periods beginning in 2036. The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates.

View the full CBO cost estimate

How implementation would work

The Secretary of the Interior would receive the appropriated funds and deposit $5,124,902.12 into the existing Shoshone-Paiute Tribes Water Rights Development Fund. No new rulemaking, reporting structure, or administrative machinery is created; the bill adds a single subparagraph to the existing fund statute authorizing the payment.

Legislative status & sources

Latest action

Held at the desk.

2025-12-15

Official CRS summary

Show the CRS summary

Technical Correction to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

This bill authorizes deposit of specified interest payments into the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes Water Rights Development Fund. This fund was established in 2009 under the water rights settlement agreement for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation.

From the Congressional Research Service.

Legislative subjects

Federal-Indian relations; Government trust funds; Idaho; Indian claims; Indian lands and resources rights; Interest, dividends, interest rates; Native Americans; Nevada; Water use and supply

Committee report

S. Rept. 119-94

Congressional Bill

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S 546: Technical Correction to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 | Legislation Reporter